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Chernivtsi Jews Worried about Ancient Cemetery

26.05.2006, [18:27] // Jewish Communities //

Chernivtsi – In southwestern Ukrainian Chernivtsi, 10 sections of the concrete fence of an ancient Jewish cemetery have fallen down on the road. According to Angela Nikolaieva, director of the Cemetery on Zelena Street Historical Cultural Reserve, this happened because of erosion processes and insufficient financial support of the reserve, as the risk of landslides was known long ago. Nevertheless, no measures were taken because they could not afford the restoration, as the newspaper “Chas 2000” reported on 18 May 2006.

Chernivtsi Jews are concerned that fence parts are already being stolen, and they do not believe that it fell down by itself, like the monuments which are now lying on graves.

The reserve annually receives 135,000 thousand hryvnias (approximately US$ 27,000) from the national budget and almost 20,000 hryvnias from the local fund of Chernivtsi residents, who give 1 hryvnia per year for the maintenance of cemeteries. It remains unclear, though, where the money goes.

Source:

• http://www.risu.org.ua/ukr/religion.and.society/other_art/article;10340/